Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-25

to it, al but six were from that state, and
most ct them from the region above indi-
Gated.
TIE grass is al annual, growing usually
FROM two to four feet high, and is especi-
ally valuable for hay. 1t prefers rich
alluvial soils, but stands drouth well,
though on dry uplsnds its yield is much
reduced. The plant Is furnished with en-
abundance of rather short and broad
leaves, and the stems, which are rather
weak, sre often produced in considerable
number from single root, and where
the growth is rank are inclined to be
decumbent ct the base. It is valuable
for all purposes for which the ordinary
millets are used, and should be tried
f, throughout the south. In Texas, where
most largely grown, 1t generally over
comes other grasses aud weeds, but N
some of the other southern states Grab
grass and weeds have interiered with It's
growth.
Fleming Moore, West Point, Fayettc
county, Central Texas: l learn from the
Farm ana Flreside that your department
desires information regarding "Southern
grasses" | will contine my remarks
solely to the Colorado grass, or Texas
millet, locally known as Austin grass
this name being given from the fact that
lit was first utilized as hay near the Capi
tai of Texas.
| 1t was first discovered in Dewitt coun-
ty, on the Guadalupe river, the seed be
ing supposed to have been deposited
there by wild geese. It's cultivation in
some sections is g profitable industry,
which is assuming large proportions. 1t
is rapid in its growth, and stands mod
crate drouth we'll. 1t will stand almost
dead for four months, and then when rain
comes on, be brought to perfection. 1t
prefers light soils but will
grow in any part OF the south
except on black waxy land. On rich
sandy soil 1t will yield three tons per
acre, and in favorable seasons may be
cut three times. 1t is only valuable for
hay, and entirely unfit for pasture. 1t is
easily subdued by cultivation. After the
ground has become we'll seeded, by one
crop being allowed to remain on the land
uncut, it can be grown on the same land
year after year indefinitely.
AS hay plant believe this to have no
superior. i is especially excellent for
horses, mules and milCh cows. In sum
mer, however, cows will not eat 1t unless
forced to; but in winter they relish it,
and 1t proves excellent for making milk
and butter. In Travis county large farms
have been devoted to this grass alone,
the most OF the hay being consumed in
the local markets, where 1t sells readily
at SIS TO so per ton.
To obtain crop, it is only necessary to
remove the stalks from corn-held. The
grass will come OF itself and give good
yield of hay. Some put in crop of oats
iavN Mt +lnC +oly SlrI h.
ground, after which upon the first rain,
the grass comes up. Some set aside
iplats OF unbToken ground, and when the
weeds come up in April breek and har-
row. This kills the weeds, sad the grass
then comes up so thick that 1t gets ahead
of the weeds and chokes them out. After
cutting the grass the land is broken
again, when, II there is any rain second
crop is obtained with absolute certainty
It yields seeds enormously, but the seeds
ripen at different times, those st the top
first. The grass Is cut and cured like any
: other hay, but must be left in the sun IN
raked st least two days. Care must De
taken to cut it st the proper time; if toe
| late the seed will drop of; If too soon yor
will still have good hay, but the seed will
l be chaff Examine the seed at the top Of
: the head; if 1t contains milk, cut it; but
: if it contains green juice, wait few days
but not until the dough state is reached
1t might be inferred, from the grass
being naturally in our fields, that il
/ would be pest, but such is not the case
II roots near the surface, indeed SO shall
low that in raking care must be tskeI
not to pull up the stubble. A late raiI
in August brings it up in the cottor
fields, and it frequently gets higher thar
! the cotton, before that Is picked, but be-
!. You'd damaging the sample q little 1t does
3 40 injury. Enclosed send you sample
S Of this grass which is cured as it should
8 be; some OF the seeds are chsffY, bu
= most of them will terminate. | repeat
i 1t is my favorite of all grasses for making
: hay.
a correspondent OF Lampasss county
Tex, writing to the department in 1883
: says: 1t is undoubtedly the finest forag,
4 plant in existence. For horses, cattle ant
sheep it is excellent. They prefer it tt
e any other kind Of hay, or even to shea
/ oats. 1t is raised in this section by plow
+. ing the land after crop Of Snail grain
S has been harvested. 1t 10 8 sure crop
: and produces two or three tons per acre
II. L. Raven, Secretary Morrelltowr
: Grange, Morrelltowp, Travis county
q Tex: Said TO have originated in thi!
g county on the river bottom below Austin
e 1t comes voluntarily, and after the corr
q is cut from the field is mown and made
e into hay. Some plant no crop, but plov
= and harrow the land and get two cuttings
s II is not good pasture plant, IS it come
O late and the first frost kills il.
e Dr.. Vasey says that Johnson grass i
a best adapted to warm climates, and ha
= proved most valuable on wsrm dry soil
r in the southern states. It is occasionall
d more or less winter killed as far south q
j the northern portion of Texas and Ala
t bama. Its chief value is for hay, in re
r gions where other grasses fail on accoun
Il of drouth.
d j. N. Rune, Duffau Wells, Erath coun
Il ty, Northern Texas, writes:
e Johnson grass is the only cultivated
g grass that has been tried in this locality
l but it spreads SO rapidly, and is so diff
It cult to subdue, that farmers are afraid Q
II 1t. 1t can be kept from spreading by no
e letting it 60 to seed. 1t does not max
|" choice fodder for cattle, but is excellen
n pasture for hogs in the winter. The
n work on the roots, which are large an
Is very numerous, ana do not seem to hur
/ the yield for the next year.